Each week we’ll look at the top trade targets for each position. Trade targets can be any player at any time throughout the season. The aim (when possible) is to “buy low” and “sell high,” acquiring and getting rid of players as they are hitting their peak or before they lose their value. This article will become extra handy once bye-weeks kick off next week.
Did I miss a key trade target for this week? Comment below.
Buy “Low”
Quarterback: Geno Smith (SEA) – Smith is QB2 over the last two weeks and is on pace to destroy his previous career-high marks. He might do that before the Seahawks’ bye in Week 11. He’s got his best QB rating by far at 113.2. He’s bested his completion percentage by nearly 25 points at 75.2%. He’s already halfway to his top passing yardage mark of 3,046 with 1,305 yards through five games. His yards per attempt is 8.3, a full point above his previous best mark in a season in which he played at least five games. He’s four away from his top touchdown mark of 13 with nine and has only thrown two interceptions. Smith’s next five opposing D/STs before the Seahawks’ bye in Week 11 are the Cardinals twice (D/ST23), Chargers (D/ST29), Giants (D/ST20) and Buccaneers (D/ST4). If you’re streaming QBs over the next few weeks with byes showing up, you could do worse than Geno Smith.
Running Back: Alvin Kamara (NO) – This may be a stretch, but worth a shot. Kamara was overshadowed by Taysom Hill in Week 5. Kamara is an elite name and talent for fantasy football and real life. His manager may not even open your trade request, BUT he was also RB46 in Week 1, out for Week 2, RB40 in Week 3 and out for Week 4 before landing as RB8 last week. That manager is frustrated at minimum and may be willing to move off the “headache.” If so, pounce. Kamara has seen his workload and production increase in each of his three games this season but has yet to score somehow. His 194 total yards in Week 5 show he’s still the focal point of the Saints’ offense. We just have to hope that Hill doesn’t have THREE touchdowns every week as their “tight end.” Kamara has four plus matchups coming up against CIN, @ARI, LV and BAL. It might be a tough pull, but worth a try.
Wide Receiver: Chris Godwin (TB) – Godwin is an elite option for Tom Brady when healthy. He isn’t 100%, but he’s been out there the last two weeks after missing Weeks 2 and 3. He saw 10 targets in Week 4 and caught all six in Week 5. His production hasn’t shined through yet, but I expect it to sooner than later. He will be unattainable once his numbers pop. Brady threw 52 times in Week 5. The Buccaneers might resort back to a pass-focused offense. If they do, it’s Godwin and Mike Evans reaping those rewards. I already have Godwin on all of my teams, and you should too.
Tight End: Hayden Hurst (CIN) – Don’t look now, but Hurst is top-12 among tight ends in targets, routes run, route participation and red zone targets. We want volume for our streaming tight ends, and Hurst is seeing it. He may even be on your waiver wires, but in the case that he’s managed, he may be an easy steal with upside. He’s scored a touchdown in each of the last two games.
Sell “High”
Quarterback: Derek Carr (LV) – Carr is QB12 on the season, but it feels like QB20. If not for two broken coverage bombs to Davante Adams on Monday Night, he’s most likely on the waiver wire today. He’s thrown for 300+ yards just once. He has no more than two touchdowns in any game. He’s had 20+ fantasy points just once and is on a bye this week. Carr is a streamer anyway, but if you can move him for another option with a big weekly upside, I would. Below are Josh Jacobs’ numbers and why I think he has enough hype to move too. Those carries don’t help Carr. Adams is great, obviously, but if he doesn’t catch two massive touchdowns, Carr looks horrendous. Move if you can.
Running Back: Josh Jacobs (LV) – Over the first three games, Jacobs was RB29. He’s the RB2 over the last two weeks, behind only Austin Ekeler. Jacobs has the 10th most targets per game average over the last three games, and he’s seen the sixth most snap share % among running backs so far. Opportunity is key in fantasy football, and Jacobs is seeing it. My knocks on him in years past were his inefficiencies and the weak Raiders offense, but Jacobs has done well getting in the end zone. He’s scored seven, 12, nine and three touchdowns each season, respectively. If the Raiders continue to use him this way and he continues to have his best yards per carry (YPC) of his career – 4.8 – he’s a must-start in fantasy. I mentioned him as a “Sell High” candidate last week. He proved me wrong. I’m not all in yet, but I’d be willing to eat my words should he keep this up. I don’t think he will, and you should cash in while you can. Plus, the Raiders have a bye in Week 6.
Wide Receiver: Josh Reynolds (DET) – To his credit, Reynolds has filled in mightily given the opportunity for the Lions, but after this week’s bye, D’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark should all be set to return to the passing game. That’s terrible news for the WR23 on the season and WR10 over the last three weeks Reynolds. He’s seen 28 targets over the last three weeks and nearly 100 yards in two games. Just one touchdown, but anyone who missed picking him up might be looking for a nice plug-and-play for future bye weeks. It may be tough to move on his bye week, but I’d be willing to trade for a usable WR4/flex, handcuff RB or even high-quality D/ST or kicker in leagues where relevant. Get anything you can before dropping him in two weeks, anyway.
Tight End: Pat Freiermuth (PIT) – Patty Fry has been solid as a streamer, but he just suffered another concussion which may keep him out more than a week. In addition to his health concerns, I’m not sure I trust Kenny Pickett just yet. He’s fun, and I think the Steelers are in good hands moving forward, but I’d rather have a more reliable option in a more high-powered offense. Freiermuth may still hold name value and be moveable. If so, do it. The Steelers are 30th in points scored this season. No thanks.
“already halfway to his top passing yardage mark of 3,046 with 1,305 yards through five games”
if the first part of that sentence is true one of the numbers later isn’t. or “almost” should be in there.